The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 26, 2000
Filed:
Dec. 30, 1998
Jacy Charles Hoeppner, Columbia City, IN (US);
David Ray Brown, Warsaw, IN (US);
Gregory David VanDeWater, Warsaw, IN (US);
Joel C Higgins, Claypool, IN (US);
Brian David Salyer, Warsaw, IN (US);
Biomet, Inc., Warsaw, IN (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for enabling access to an intramedullary canal of a femur through a femoral knee joint prosthesis includes a first condylar portion and a second condylar portion. The first condylar portion has a first femoral bearing surface and the second condylar portion has a second femoral bearing surface. An intercondylar portion extends between the first condylar portion and the second condylar portion and defines an opening passing therethrough. A seal member is operable to substantially seal the opening such that the seal member is further operable to be opened to enable access to the intramedullary canal of the femur without having to remove the femoral knee joint prosthesis from the femur. A method for enabling access to the intramedullary canal of the femur through the femoral knee joint prosthesis is also provided.